VBNWDW - Chapter 22
Chapter 22
"Old Master,"
Someone stood respectfully before the Chinese-style wooden chair and spoke in a low voice.
Old Master Xi unhurriedly set down his teacup and asked, "How did it go?"
"The company said…" The person paused, somewhat hesitant.
"Said what? Don't dawdle," he snapped.
"They… they said Miss Xi requested leave," he said quickly, steeling himself. "They said she took a week of marriage leave and hasn't been heard from since her business trip in H City ended."
As his words fell, the atmosphere grew suddenly oppressive.
Fingers like withered branches tapped on the tabletop. His murky yet sharp, tiger-like eyes half-closed. After a long moment, Old Master Xi let out a sarcastic laugh. "So the little wolf pup has learned to fight back."
The person beside him grew even more timid, bowing their head without daring to say a word.
Everyone knew that Xi Zhoulu was a notorious workaholic, diligent to a fault. She would even stay in the office on New Year's Eve and, aside from medical check-ups or illness, worked almost year-round without a break.
But this time was different. Xi Zhoulu had actually requested seven days of marriage leave and had even completely abandoned her duties and vanished, looking as if she intended to disappear for the entire holiday.
The person beside him observed his expression and tentatively asked, "Should we continue trying to contact Miss Xi?"
Old Master Xi curled his lip, his tone chilling. "Contact her? She resents me for bullying her precious someone and is deliberately putting on airs, telling me to meddle less in her affairs from now on."
He sneered again. "No need to contact her."
"But the company…"
"Will it stop running without her?" Old Master Xi waved a hand dismissively. "I'm going to rest."
The person was sharp and immediately bowed. "I'll help you to your room."
"Mm," Old Master Xi glanced at him, a flicker of contempt in his eyes, but he still raised a hand and rested it on the man's arm.
The salty wind swept across the azure sea. Not far away, seagulls flapped their wings, soaring through the blue sky and white clouds toward the distant horizon.
The woman, half-reclining on a sun lounger, lifted her eyes slightly to look toward the edge of the pure white yacht.
Xi Zhoulu sat not far away, her long hair casually tied up. She wore a white sun hat and a matching sun-protective shirt, holding a two-meter fishing rod in her hands. A bucket and a landing net were tossed beside her. If not for the wheelchair she was sitting in, she looked no different from an ordinary fishing enthusiast.
The brilliant sunlight was blinding. Even with a sun umbrella behind her, Luo Yueqing couldn't help but raise a hand to shield her eyes.
Looking over, she saw that Xi Zhoulu was completely unaffected. She had been sitting there steadily for two hours, not moving an inch except when a fish took the bait.
Luo Yueqing felt helpless. She shouldn't have said she was curious about what Xi Zhoulu usually did at sea and wanted to join her when Xi Zhoulu had asked her yesterday if she had any plans or places she wanted to go.
Whose honeymoon consisted of two hours of fishing?
Luo Yueqing rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed. But seeing the woman's relaxed and leisurely posture, so different from her usual tension, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to suggest leaving.
Originally, Xi Zhoulu had wanted to rent a superyacht. The one owned by the Xi family had been damaged by Xi Yunting and sent back to the original manufacturer for repairs, and it had yet to be returned. But when Luo Yueqing asked, "I want to know what you used to do when you went out to sea," she abandoned her original plan.
The yacht they were on now was one Xi Zhoulu had previously purchased in a private capacity, registered under a trusted person's name. It was her own big toy, unknown to the Xi family.
Whenever Xi Zhoulu was on a business trip here, she would steal some time to go out to sea and fish.
She hadn't intended to hide it from Luo Yueqing. She had wanted to rent another boat because this yacht only had two levels and was specifically designed for fishing, so its size and facilities weren't as comfortable as a rental.
She had hesitated before they set out, trying to persuade Luo Yueqing to choose a more comfortable option, but the woman wouldn't listen. Now she was finally feeling the regret.
Luo Yueqing studied her. Seeing that there had been no movement for a long time, she finally got up and walked over.
The sea was teeming with fish, and with fish-finding equipment, they had sailed to a spot with a high concentration. After tossing in shrimp and pork ribs as bait, every cast had yielded a catch.
But perhaps they had caught too many, or perhaps the large fish she had caught earlier had struggled and scared the school away, because Xi Zhoulu had been sitting for a while now without having to pull on the rod.
She walked up next to Xi Zhoulu, who didn't notice her. Instead, the man helping with the rod saw her first and called out softly, "Madam."
Xi Zhoulu's legs were impaired, and the pull of a fish in the water was strong. It wasn't uncommon for fishermen, unwilling to lose their catch, to be dragged into the water. So, someone had to stand by. If Xi Zhoulu couldn't pull in a large fish, he would take the rod and help.
However, for a fishing enthusiast, the struggle with a fish was a process that required both intelligence and physical strength. Much of the fun of fishing lay in this contest. Having someone else take over was almost equivalent to it not being your own catch.
Luo Yueqing didn't know how Xi Zhoulu, who loved fishing so much, had convinced herself to accept this arrangement.
But seeing that Xi Zhoulu only used small bait like fish and shrimp to attract smaller fish, it was clear that she didn't really like others helping. It was just that her leg injury made it impossible for her to stand and exert force, so she had no choice.
Luo Yueqing waved her hand, signaling for the man to leave.
He hesitated for a moment, glanced at the fishing rod, and figured there probably wouldn't be another catch for a while. He followed her instruction and quietly departed.
And the ever-vigilant Xi Zhoulu, surprisingly, didn't react at all, still completely immersed in her fishing.
Luo Yueqing found it amusing. The person who was once so guarded, constantly warning her with bodyguards, also had moments like this.
But it wasn't that strange. After all, everyone on this yacht was a trusted confidant of Xi Zhoulu. Even the team of chefs handling the catch were old acquaintances who had been investigated and had worked by Xi Zhoulu's side for many years.
Moreover, the trip had no set plan; it was all based on Xi Zhoulu's mood. This also prevented anyone from tipping off outsiders and revealing their location.
So, Xi Zhoulu was much more relaxed than usual.
She tugged at the fishing line. The calm, azure sea seemed endless, with only the rod stirring a small ripple that vanished in an instant.
Sunlight fell on her delicate features, softening her cool demeanor. Her pale skin was almost translucent, but her light gray-blue eyes were bright, like brilliantly polished sapphires. This was a rarely seen Xi Zhoulu.
The impression she usually gave was one of gloomy somberness, dressed in formal, stiff clothing, like a puppet half-hidden in the shadows.
But now, she had suddenly become vivid. Even while staring at the sea for a long time, she appeared quiet and gentle.
Dark clouds were blown over by the wind, blocking the sun. The weather at sea was always unpredictable, but they had checked the forecast beforehand. There would only be small patches of showers, not enough to affect their trip.
A cool breeze blew, and waves began to ripple across the sea's surface.
Xi Zhoulu finally tore her attention away. She glanced casually to the side, then froze for a moment. Her brow furrowed slightly as she said, "Why are you standing here?"
"What? CEO Xi can't catch any fish, so now you're blaming me for being a distraction?" Luo Yueqing said lazily.
Hearing this, Xi Zhoulu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She explained gently, "The sun is strong here, and you're not wearing a sun shirt. You'll get sunburned."
She looked at Luo Yueqing's clothes, recognized them, and said with a sense of helplessness, "You're wearing my clothes again."
She couldn't understand why this person loved her clothes so much, constantly taking something from her closet. At first, Xi Zhoulu thought it was because she found the fabric of her shirts comfortable and even had a few custom-made for Luo Yueqing. But she would leave a whole closet of her own clothes untouched and still wear Xi Zhoulu's.
"I just grabbed it," Luo Yueqing said, her confidence belying her weak excuse. It was the same line every time; she couldn't even be bothered to make up a new one.
Xi Zhoulu glanced up at her but didn't say anything more.
To be honest, Xi Zhoulu's shirts didn't really fit Luo Yueqing. The one in the office last time had been made in the wrong size—it was wide and loose, and Xi Zhoulu had just hung it in the break room without ever wearing it. But Xi Zhoulu's regular-sized clothes were very uncomfortable for Luo Yueqing.
After all, one was an Alpha, and the other was an Omega. Even though they were both female, Alphas underwent significant changes after differentiation, such as growing taller and developing a broader frame.
It was just that Xi Zhoulu was usually in a wheelchair, so the difference wasn't obvious. But if they were compared, Luo Yueqing was actually a bit taller, with a broader frame and a fuller figure below the collarbones.
As a result, when she wore Xi Zhoulu's shirt, it looked like she was deliberately wearing a size too small. She couldn't even fasten all the buttons, leaving the top two undone to reveal a hint of a rounded curve. Her waist was cinched to appear extremely slender, and below that were long legs clad only in denim shorts.
Xi Zhoulu's gaze lingered on the shirt's collar, where a bit of black fabric was showing. She didn't know if it was intentional or not. She pressed her lips together but didn't point it out.
Instead, she asked about something else. "Did you put on sunscreen?"
"I did, I did," Luo Yueqing said, finding her nagging. She had been reminding her since they boarded, and she was still at it. Luo Yueqing changed the subject, starting to tease her again. "Want me to check for you?"
Xi Zhoulu felt that Luo Yueqing should go into sales; she might have a special, undiscovered talent for it. One moment she was annoyed, and the next she could say something incredibly tempting.
This "incredibly tempting" referred not just to the content, but to the method of delivery. She used her unique, alluring tone, like a kitten that wants to play with you but only runs by, letting its fluffy tail brush against your ankle, deliberately enticing you until you can't help but bend down and play with it.
Luo Yueqing was just the same.
Before Xi Zhoulu could answer, Luo Yueqing lazily added, "All talk. If you were really worried, you'd help me put on sunscreen next time."
Xi Zhoulu's lips moved, but no words came out. In the end, she just turned her head to look at the fishing rod.
Luo Yueqing, however, started to laugh. She leaned against the railing by the rod, her posture not quite proper but exuding a lazy, seductive charm.
"What, you go quiet when I ask you to do some work?" She deliberately drew out her words, the end of her sentence rising slightly. It sounded like a complaint but was actually a mischievous tease.
"Tsk, what do they say? A scum O is just like this. All talk and no action. The moment you ask them to do something, they play dead." Seeing that the other woman wasn't responding, Luo Yueqing became even more relentless.
You couldn't blame her, right? The signal was weak at sea, so she couldn't play on her phone. Her only option was to tease the person who brought her out here. It was only fair.
"Xi. Zhou. Lu." She even managed to make the three syllables sound winding and flirtatious. She lifted a bare foot and hooked it around the other woman's pant leg.
Xi Zhoulu had no choice but to turn and look at her, her light gray-blue eyes filled with helplessness. How could a master get angry at their kitten? No matter how much it misbehaved, they could only indulge it helplessly.
She said, "Luo Yueqing."
It sounded like a warning to stop, but it held no threat at all.
"What?" Luo Yueqing asked, feigning ignorance. She even put on a serious expression and reminded her, "Focus on your fishing."
She was putting on a good act. It would have been even better if the smile at the corners of her eyes was a little less obvious.
Xi Zhoulu opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. Finally, she said, "Are you bored? Should we head back?"
"Not at all," Luo Yueqing said, blinking innocently.
But Xi Zhoulu wasn't a fool. She immediately started to reel in the line, intending to return early.
But Luo Yueqing was faster, pressing a hand on hers. "It's rare for you to have a day off. Why go back so early?"
Just as Xi Zhoulu was about to speak, she saw the woman sit sideways on her lap, expertly wrapping an arm around her neck. She smiled brightly. "If you're tired of playing, you can teach me."
It wasn't that Xi Zhoulu hadn't prepared a fishing rod for her before. It was just that the woman wasn't interested and had returned to her room in less than ten minutes.
Xi Zhoulu looked down at her, but her gaze unintentionally fell on her collar. The shirt's fabric was thin, and being pure white, it clung to her skin. You could vaguely make out quite a bit without it even being open.
She didn't know if this person wanted to catch fish, or something else.
Xi Zhoulu pressed her lips together, forcing her attention back to the fishing rod. She said in a deep voice, "Fishing isn't actually hard. The key is to have patience."
At that moment, Luo Yueqing was the perfect student. Not only did she nod to show she was listening, but she also proactively asked questions. "What about holding the rod? Are there any special requirements?"
Xi Zhoulu was about to answer but was interrupted by Luo Yueqing, who had already reached out to cover her hand. "Like this?" she asked.
Delicate fingertips brushed over pale knuckles, a cool warmth spreading from where they were covered.
Human physiology was strange. Although the hands had many nerves and a very sensitive sense of touch, when you clasped your own hands together, even interlocking your fingers, you felt nothing at all.
But when you touched someone else, your senses became exceptionally keen. You could even feel the ridges of their fingerprints, the slight protrusion of their knuckles, their long, well-proportioned fingers.
Only then did Xi Zhoulu notice that even Luo Yueqing's hands were exquisitely beautiful. The skin and bone were perfectly balanced, the lines fluid and clean. She wore no nail polish, only revealing translucent pink, rounded nails.
"What are you looking at?" a voice suddenly whispered next to her ear.
Xi Zhoulu subconsciously lowered her eyes, hiding her gaze.
But the woman was relentless, continuing with a low laugh, "Don't worry. I trimmed them short yesterday and filed them down properly."
Her breath coiled around Xi Zhoulu's earlobe. A faint blush crept up from her neck. The hand holding Xi Zhoulu's tightened, palm pressing against the back of her hand, clearly feeling every line and texture.
Xi Zhoulu wanted to stop her, calling out again, "Luo Yueqing…"
But Luo Yueqing turned to look back at the sea and asked, "What else?"
"Are there requirements for the bait? I see you've been using small shrimp."
After her mischief, she started acting all serious, making one feel both exasperated and amused.
Xi Zhoulu took a deep breath and could only explain, "It depends on what fish you want to catch. If you want to catch very large fish, you can use live fish as bait. For smaller fish, shrimp, small squid, or even pork will do."
Luo Yueqing nodded as if she understood, but her fingertips were tracing patterns on the back of Xi Zhoulu's hand, indicating she wasn't paying much attention.
Xi Zhoulu couldn't compete with her shamelessness. Just as she was about to say something, she felt the fishing rod tremble. Her eyes narrowed, and she reflexively tightened her grip on Luo Yueqing's hand. "A fish is on the hook," she said seriously.
Luo Yueqing looked up. The fishing line was suddenly shaking violently. In the distance, the dark clouds had gathered into a single mass, looking as if they were about to press down on the sea.
Get instant access to all chapters now.
Comments
Post a Comment